Fly Tying: Equipment

This is the tying equipment (apart from my own tools) that I use when I tie flies.

Law Vise–the most user-friendly vise in the world!

Rite Bobbin–bobbins with ceramic thread tubes prevent the thread from snapping. Mine are specially made to fit very small (Persall’s) bobbins. I fill them with tying thread using a sewing machine.

A real must is classic surgeon scalpels with replaceable blades–one standard size for my wing materials and a larger one with thicker blade to cut foam. A metal ruler and a small cutting mat.

Fine scissors is another must. In my collection you’ll find two pairs of self-sharpening and spring-loaded mini-scissors from Benecchi–one pair with straight blades and the other with curved blades. I also have a pair of small regular scissors to cut foam and plastic materials.

I use four types of tweezers. A curved, narrow and sharp tweezer; plus a straight, narrow and sharp tweezer for fine details and a bold, straight and sharp one for tough jobs, like pulling off foam or feathers. The fourth tweezer is small and self-locking one to hold hackle and other materials.

A small dubbing hook and a small paper clip when making loops of dubbing and hackle.

A standard dubbing needle.

An old dental tool is always useful.

A standard whip finisher to tie smooth knots when finishing the flies.

A small can with a mounted needle in the top to apply varnish.

A battery-charged hot point pen to heat, burn and shape legs and tentacles.